Defining and tracking medical student self-monitoring using multiple-choice question item certainty

BMC Medical Education

Table 1 Certainty descriptors for each MCQ item

No certainty	Low certainty	Moderate certainty	High certainty
I have no or insufficient experience and/or knowledge upon which to base a response. My answer is:effectively a guess.	I have limited experience and/or knowledge upon which to base a response. My answer is: based on limited information.	I have partial experience and/or knowledge upon which to base a response. My answer is: based on partial information.	I have sufficient experience and/or knowledge upon which to base a response. My answer is: based on sufficient information.
I would need to consult a colleague, clinician, or references prior to considering any response.	I would need to consult a colleague, clinician or references for assistance in formulating my response.	I would need to consult a colleague, clinician or references to confirm the appropriateness of my response.	I would have no need to consult a colleague, clinician or reference in order to make a response.
In an authentic healthcare situation, I would require education to respond.	In an authentic healthcare situation, I would require direction to respond.	In an authentic healthcare situation, I would require confirmation to respond.	In an authentic healthcare situation, I would be able to respond.
			While I may consult a colleague or clinician, this is because they are required to undertake further action, not to educate, direct, or confirm my response.

Certainty descriptors were presented to the students within assessment documentation for the year and at the start of each test

ISSN: 1472-6920